The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, visited the United States of America from 22 to 23 September 2005.
During his visit, Director-General Pfirter met high-level officials at the United States Department of State, including H.E. Mr Robert Joseph, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security; H.E. Mr Stephen G. Rademaker, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-proliferation; and H.E. Ms Paula DeSutter, Assistant Secretary for Verification, Compliance and Implementation. In their meetings with the Director-General, the officials discussed a wide range of topics pertaining to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
In his meeting with Director-General Pfirter, Under Secretary Joseph reiterated, on behalf of his Government, the strong resolve of the United States to support the CWC’s aims and objectives and expressed his Government’s unwavering support for the OPCW and its full and effective implementation of the chemical weapons ban.
In the course of his visit, Ambassador Pfirter also had an opportunity to provide the Honorable John Spratt, United States Representative, South Carolina, as well as Congressional staff members, a briefing on the present status of the CWC’s implementation. Congressman Spratt stressed the need to ensure the global chemical weapons ban’s full and effective application around the world and to support the effort by the Russian Federation to eliminate its stockpile of chemical weapons safely and swiftly.
On behalf of the OPCW, Director-General Pfirter commended the effort undertaken by the United States to ensure the timely destruction of its stockpile of chemical weapons, as well as for its on-going and substantial support provided to the OPCW and individual Member States to promote the full and effective application of the chemical weapons ban.
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